20 Detained in Expanding Football Betting Scandal: Mert Hakan Yandaş and Metehan Baltacı Among Those Jailed
Turkey has been engulfed for days by a sweeping football betting scandal, and the investigation has now reached a critical stage as 20 suspects — including top-flight players — are formally arrested.
For days, Turkey has been gripped by one of the most far-reaching betting scandals in its football history. The investigation, led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, has now taken a decisive turn as 20 of the 39 detainees were ordered into pre-trial detention. Among them are Fenerbahçe captain Mert Hakan Yandaş and Galatasaray defender Metehan Baltacı, whose financial records and digital materials were cited as key evidence. The probe, which has dominated public debate and shaken the football community, continues to widen with new findings surfacing each day.
A Turning Point in the Investigation
The court’s decision to jail 20 suspects underscored the seriousness of the allegations. Prosecutors argued that the scope of the betting activities went far beyond casual wagering and pointed to structured, coordinated actions capable of influencing match outcomes. The arrests of Yandaş and Baltacı injected unprecedented tension into the sporting world, intensifying scrutiny on professional ethics and regulatory oversight.
Prosecutor’s File: Money Flow and Betting Activity
According to the prosecutor’s referral document, Mert Hakan Yandaş transferred 4.45 million TL to fellow defendant Ersen Dikmen between December 2021 and October 2025. Records show that the funds were forwarded to legal betting platforms within minutes, while Dikmen transferred 2.06 million TL back to Yandaş.
Digital forensic analysis revealed betting slips on Fenerbahçe matches on Yandaş’s devices, strengthening claims that he participated in wagers involving his own team.
Digital Evidence: Messages, Slips, and Transactions
Investigators reported that Dikmen’s digital materials contained WhatsApp messages involving betting predictions, discussions about special player bets, transaction updates, and screenshots of betting slips. These communications and financial movements were interpreted as signs of a sustained and coordinated betting pattern extending beyond individual behavior.
Accusations Involving Other Players
The prosecutor’s text also detailed additional findings related to other footballers. Ensar Bilir is alleged to have placed bets on matches involving his own team, including wagers on the opposing team to win.
Oktay Aydın reportedly placed bets while under contract with Vanspor, while Yücel Gürol allegedly wagered on Adana Demirspor’s matches during his time at the club.
Karagümrük’s Kerem Yusuf Sirkeci was found to have placed goal-related bets on matches involving his team, and Pendikspor’s Emircan Çiçek accessed both legal and illegal platforms, with match-related betting slips discovered on his devices.
Judicial Oversight for Others
Several other suspects were released under judicial control measures such as signature requirements and travel bans, while prosecutors are expected to continue analyzing data that could expand the investigation further.
